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British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing
British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.
The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.
In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.
But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.
The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.
The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.
Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.
“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.
“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.
“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.
“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”
The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.
In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.
As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.
Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.
Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.
The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.
Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.
The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.
The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.
Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.
In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.
Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.
Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.
New farm-themed slot adds Free Spins, Hold and Win, and optional bonus buys priced at 75x and 150x the bet.
Booming Games has launched Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win, a new farmyard-themed slot featuring a Free Spins mechanic and a Hold and Win bonus. The supplier said the game runs on a 5×3 grid with 20 paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 6,000x.
In the base game, Golden Eggs are stored in a Collection Pot. Free Spins trigger when three Golden Eggs land on the middle reels, with their cash value moved above the reels at the start of the round. Booming Games said that cash value is awarded each time a Golden Egg lands during the feature.
During Free Spins, Boost symbols can increase Egg prizes to the next prize level from one to five times, while an Extra Spins symbol can award between one and five additional spins. The company said Boost symbols can increase to Prize Pot values of 10x-1000x, awarding Mini, Minor, Major and Grand prizes.
The Hold and Win round triggers with five or more Eggs and starts with three respins, with Egg symbols held in place and the respin counter resetting when additional Eggs land. The Grand Prize is awarded when all positions on the grid are filled with Eggs. The release also states that triggering with five or more eggs including three golden eggs activates a Combo Bonus, awarding both Hold and Win and Free Spins in a Super Bonus Round.
Booming Games said players can purchase either the Bonus or the Combo Bonus for 75x and 150x the bet amount respectively, which is guaranteed to trigger the Hold and Win feature. A Boost+ option can also be activated in the base game, increasing the bet amount by 1.25x and increasing the chance of triggering bonus features.
Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “Packed with a host of innovative new features which offer fast-paced, high stakes gameplay, Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win is the latest example of Booming Games’ market-leading capabilities. The Fox acts as the antagonist, stealing Golden Eggs and adding a real sense of theatre to the game, which we’re confident will be a hit among players.”
The post Booming Games launches Henhouse Hustle: Hold and Win appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet has released its latest cascading slot Crime King 1000, which transports players into the heart of a gripping underworld inspired by classic mafia stories, hidden fortunes and high-stakes ambition. In this city of secrets, only the boldest are destined to build an empire.
Played across 6 cascading reels, the game features an engaging Match 8+ mechanic, where the matching symbols disappear after every successful combination, making room for new symbols to fall into place. This dynamic gameplay creates opportunities for consecutive cascades, keeping the action flowing and the anticipation high throughout every round.
At the centre of the experience is the Progressive Multiplier feature. As valuable multiplier symbols are collected, four distinct multiplier tiers – green, blue, purple and red – come into play, each offering increasingly powerful values. The highest tier can reach an impressive 1000x, adding a dramatic boost to both the base game and the Free Spins feature as multiple multipliers combine during cascading sequences.
The pressure intensifies when four Scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, unlocking 15 Free Spins and opening the door to even greater multiplier opportunities. The feature can also be retriggered, extending the action and allowing players to stay in the heart of the underworld even longer.
For those unwilling to wait, the Buy Bonus feature offers immediate access to the Free Spins experience, providing a fast track to the game’s most exciting moments.
With its cinematic crime-inspired atmosphere, cascading gameplay and powerful multiplier mechanics, Crime King 1000 delivers a bold adventure where every cascade strengthens the player’s influence and every decision brings the player one step closer to ruling the city. In this world, reputation is everything – and only the true king of crime will claim the throne.
Cascades & Match 8
The winning symbols disappear, allowing new symbols to drop into their place, potentially triggering additional wins from a single spin. A winning configuration consists of 8 or more identical symbols anywhere on the reels.
Free Spins
15 Free Spins are triggered by landing at least 4 Scatter Symbols at any position across the reels. The feature can be retriggered by landing another 3 Scatter symbols during Free Spins.
Progressive Multiplier
Available both in the Base game and Free Spins mode. There are four colours of multiplier gems, as follows:
Green Multiplier symbol – 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x
Blue Multiplier symbol – 10x, 12x, 15x, 20x
Purple Multiplier symbol – 25x, 50x
Red Multiplier symbol – 100x, 250x, 500x, 1000x
If several multipliers appear after the cascading sequence ends, their values are added together.
Buy Free Spins
Enables the player to purchase 15 Free Spins at the price of 100x the total bet.
The post Amusnet Releases its Latest Cascading Slot, Crime King 1000 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betsson and Sliema Wanderers FC have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining their intention to establish a landmark long-term partnership, reinforcing Betsson’s long-standing contribution to Maltese sport and the local community.
Under the proposed partnership, Betsson is expected to become Sliema Wanderers’ front-of-shirt sponsor and will support the club’s continued investment in its sporting operations and facilities. The parties will now work towards finalising the full partnership agreement.
The partnership would see Sliema Wanderers join Betsson’s international football portfolio, alongside leading clubs including Inter, Club Brugge, Boca Juniors and Atlético Nacional.
The MOU reflects a shared commitment to the long-term development of Sliema Wanderers and the club’s ambition to strengthen its sporting infrastructure, enhance its competitive position and establish a more sustainable operating model for the future.
Sliema Wanderers is one of a limited number of Maltese football clubs that owns premises which can be developed and commercialised to generate recurring revenue. The club intends to continue investing in its facilities and creating additional revenue streams to support its long-term sporting ambitions.
Jesper Svensson, CEO at Betsson Group, said: “Betsson has been part of Malta for over 20 years, and we are proud to deepen our long-standing commitment to the local sporting community.
“This proposed partnership goes well beyond the traditional sponsorship model. We are supporting a club with a clear vision for its future, including stronger sporting facilities and a sustainable model that can support its continued development.
“Sliema Wanderers has demonstrated ambition and a genuine commitment to long-term progress. These are values that strongly resonate with Betsson, and we look forward to working with the club and bring its vision to life.”
The proposed partnership builds on the work undertaken by the club’s new committee, which has focused on strengthening the club’s financial foundations and investing in its sporting infrastructure.
Walter Arciola, President of Sliema Wanderers FC, said: “The signing of this MOU represents an important vote of confidence in the long-term vision we have established for Sliema Wanderers.
“Our objective is not simply to achieve success on the pitch. We want to build an institution that is financially sustainable, supported by high-quality facilities and positioned to compete successfully over the long term.
“Betsson has understood and embraced that vision from the outset. We are delighted to take this important first step towards a long-term partnership and look forward to working together to support the future development of Sliema Wanderers.”
The announcement comes as Sliema Wanderers continues to strengthen its sporting project ahead of the upcoming season. During the event, the club also presented Malta international Teddy Teuma as its latest signing, following the recent arrivals of fellow Malta internationals Alexander Satariano and Henry Bonello. The three signings further reflect the club’s ambition to combine immediate sporting progress with a sustainable long-term development strategy.
The post Betsson and Sliema Wanderers FC Sign Landmark MOU for Long-term Partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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